Catharina

Chapter 8

Asher came rushing by my side almost as soon as he heard me scream. I stood there scared out of my mind at the corpse above me. "What the-" Asher stopped there and followed my eyes. "What the hell," he stated. I clutched his arm and turned away. "The blood is fresh, almost like he was just killed," Asher said.

Suddenly, something swooshed past us and stuck into the tree. We turned to see a group of men across the lake in black armor. "Let the Princess go!" the leader ordered. My stomach twisted in knots.

I didn't want to leave. "Go, they won't hurt me. Get Littlefoot, I'll see you soon," I whispered. I let go of him. "Here," Asher whispered back. I looked down at his hand to see his dagger. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"If you can shoot me without meaning to, who the hell knows what you can do if you're meaning it," Asher smirked. I smiled and watched him disappear within the forest. I turned back at the guards across the lake. They lowered their weapons. "Are you alright Princess Catharina?" the leader asked.

I stared at them and nodded. Drop dead, I thought. I started walking around the lake towards the guards. "Your parents will be pleased to know you're alright," he continued. I kept eye contact with him and stood right in front of him, clutching the dagger.

I swallowed. "I have a message for my parents actually," I said. The men looked between each other confused. "Message? But you're headed home."

"And that's just the thing," I swallowed again, "I'm not coming home, not just yet."

"What do you mean Princess?" a man asked.

"Not now," I stated. Suddenly I raised the dagger and scratched the lead man down his face. He let out a howl of pain. I turned around and dashed through the forest, stepping on twigs and tripping over limbs of trees. I raced to find Asher. I needed Asher.

"Asher, Asher," I repeated over and over as I looked around for a man on a horse. I was afraid the men would come after me. I didn't want to go home. Not now. I wanted to stay with Asher.

"Catharina!" someone called. Within the clearing of the forest I saw Asher. I gave a sigh of relief and ran straight towards him. His arm was at the ready so when I reached him, I practically jumped onto Littlefoot's back.

We raced away, my heart beating as quickly as Littlefoot was running. I held onto Asher's waist tightly as we took off.

**********

"What was that? How did they find our location?" I asked when we took a stop. Asher climbed off of Littlefoot and hooked his reins up to a tree. "I don't know but it seems that your parents have spread word out that you're missing. The men must have been traveling their way and saw you, immediately thinking I was some kidnapper," Asher explained.

"And what about that dead body?" I asked.

"I don't know, maybe they killed him earlier. Maybe the men were sent to do that instead but to keep an eye out for Princess Catharina," Asher assumed, "But I don't care anymore because our deal is off."

"Wait what? You didn't get caught, neither of us got caught," I said.

"Yeah, well it's only a matter of time," Asher replied.

"Asher please, everything will be okay," I assured him.

"What will happen when you return to Adelidon then? What will happen to me? You'll return home to your happy kingdom and your family, but what about me? No doubt as soon as they see you returning they'll find me and I'll be sent to death."

I swallowed. He was right. I didn't want him to be but he was. "Asher I don't want that to happen, you don't deserve that," I told him.

"And why not? I've killed people haven't I, Catharina?" Asher said.

"Well, yes, but-"

"But nothing. No one would care if I just dropped dead somewhere," Asher said. I walked closer to him. "That's not true," I assured him.

"And why not?" Asher asked.

"Because I would," I stated. Asher scoffed. "Please Princess, you're only thinking about your life and your safety. Without me, you would be scavenging for food somewhere." I looked at the ground for a minute before looking back up at Asher. "You're wrong. I would care because you are the first friend I've ever had," I said.

"I'm not your-" Asher started. I raised a finger, addressing that I wasn't finished. "We've had laughs, Asher. Sure I haven't done everything I wanted to do on this journey but I feel like I've received something better. I honestly don't know what made me change my mind about you. Yes, you kill people and animals and you come off as someone who would use another in some love affair, but there's also this side of you that isn't like that at all; it cares, it helps, it doesn't hold grudges after I shoot them with an arrow," Asher smiled, "And I like that. You have a way of completely vanishing my worries about ruling Adelidon. And I like that."

"What are you saying?" Asher asked. I swallowed as my hands grew sweaty. I have never had to do this before. It was exciting in a way my stomach turned and leaped, but at the same time I was nervous like there was no tomorrow.

"Um-well-I-uh-I don't know how to put this," I stuttered. Asher looked at me carefully. He sighed. "I can't let you stay with me Princess, sorry," Asher said. He grabbed the reins of Littlefoot and brought him over to me. "Here," Asher told me, "Take your horse and head home. I'm not going to be that much of a donkey's ass to take your own horse from you."

I didn't take the reins.

"No," I rejected, "No, I'm coming with you. Now let's go." I walked forward through the grass until Asher stopped me by saying my name. "What?" I asked.

"We're headed that way," Asher said with a smirk as he jabbed his finger to his right. I nodded. "Right, of course." I started walking that way instead.

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I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this storyo you so far! It's the first princess story I've written. I don't even think I wrote one in my Google Docs days in middle school.

Anyways! Comment, Vote, DM, possibly Follow. Idk but thanks for being who you are reader/s!!!!